One resident's thoughts on living in and visiting Saratoga Springs, NY

November 13, 2013

We are getting ready to launch eight reading groups in the new year! Register now!

"Northshire Cookbook Reading Group"

We will meet on the third Tuesday of every month beginning on January 16th at 6pm in the evening at Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring Street. If you love to cook, collect cookbooks, nosh on home prepared foods and talk of food and the kitchen, don't miss out on this irresistible group! Email Maureen Sager, maureen.sager@gmail.com for more details.

"Truth and Tales Reading Group"

Approaching each topic from a factual and then fictional perspective, the group will explore a myriad of topics from art, history, mythology, women's studies and religion by reading one book from an historical/biographical account, followed the next month by a fictional version of the same or similar topic. Email Maeve Noonan, mnoonan@northshire.com if you are interested in joining this group.

"Northshire Poetry Reading Group"

Whether an anthology or work by an individual poet, each month, our poetry reading group will enjoy a new volume of poetry from which group members will choose a poem to be read aloud and then discuss. Contact Carol Graser at cgraser@northshire.com to join.

"The Armchair Explorer's Reading Group"

Travel the world with a selection of novels set throughout time and around the globe. Each month we'll explore a new country and discuss the characters and themes that make up the culture, giving each novel its unique atmosphere.Please contact Amelia Stymacks, astymacks@northshire.com, for more information.

"The End of the World Reading Group"

Is the end really near? Explore a genre that may be predicting the future without even knowing it. Prepare for post-apocalyptic worlds, the thrill of hostile takeovers, dangerous dystopias, and more. Consider the end of the world with Tara and Jess E as your knowledgeable guides! To register, contact Jess at jelder@northshire.com or Tara at tswahlan@northshire.com.

"'WeAreNotTooOldForThis' Reading Group"

Are "adult" books just not cutting it for you? Do you love reading about early life struggles, first loves, angst and dreams? Whether it be contemporary fiction, paranormal romance, or sci-fi adventure, booksellers Tara and Paige invite you to join like minded adult readers of YA fiction. Contact Tara at tswahlan@northshire.com or Paige at pmushaw@northshire.com for more info.

"Knit Wits Reading Group"

Knit Wits, Northshire's new reading group for knitters is here to save you from cold lonely winter nights - or at least one of them every month! Designed for knitters of every level, we will try new patterns and read new books! We will explore books of all different genres, and new knitting projects each month. Leah suggests listening to the audio-book while working on your yarn project - improve your mind and your wardrobe at the same time! Please contact Leah, lmoore@northshire.com for more information about this fun monthly group.

"Reading Salinger Reading Group"

Starting with the new biography, Salinger, by David Shields, this reading group will then move on to explore the remainder of Salinger's fiction. The initial meeting will take place on Monday, February 3rd, at 7pm in "the Library" of the Crown Grill in downtown Saratoga Springs, with future meetings on the first Monday of every month thereafter. Registration will be limited to 15. Please email Pat Friesen, mcfriesen2@gmail.com to enroll or receive additional information

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20% off Indiebound Hardcover Bestsellers!

Don't forget to check out the latest books on the Indiebound Bestseller List. Each of the top ten hardcover books on the Indiebound bestseller list is discounted 20% at the Northshire Bookstore. To see the latest bestsellers, visit us online or stop by the store.

October 19, 2013

Well life, fatherhood, and a huge amount of back pain has gotten in the way of my blogging. But that's OK, because I'm very happy being a Dad! In the meantime, here's a few thoughts - most of which I've been meaning to write about for a few weeks now:

It seems like quality sports writers from The Saratogian tend to leave our hometown daily soon enough. That was the case with Nicole Russo, and is now the same thing with Andrew Champagne. He not only put out good articles with commentary, but a lot of them. His hard work paid off, and he is moving on to a Horse Racing TV network out in California. Good luck Andrew!

Sometime when I wasn't looking, The movie "Ass Backwards", which was partly filmed in Saratoga Springs and Albany, was released direct to video in September. It reportedly will be released in theaters on November 8th. If the facts that (1) the movie was filmed back in 2010, (2) had major financial difficulties and was shelved for a while along the way, and (3) went to video on demand before being released in theaters doesn't make you as uninspired as I am on this movie's prospects, perhaps the trailer below will seal the deal for you. I always want anything associated with Saratoga to succeed, but this flick seems like a dog to me. We'll know soon enough. In the meantime, you can watch the film on demand via Amazon.com.

Speaking of movies filmed in Saratoga, how is it that I never heard of the movie "Aftermath" being filmed here in the Spa City? Perhaps because it was filmed in 2006 and apparently has been mothballed until early this year, when it looks like it was shown at the Cinequest Film Festival. The thriller, starring Anthony Michael Hall and Tony Danza, was also the last film for the late actor Chris Penn. Penn died in 2006, which is a clear indicator of how long this film has been languishing. That's a heck of a delay, much worse than Ass Backwards. Netflix lists the movie, but has a notation "DVD availability date unkown". I guess there were scenes filmed at Clancy's Tavern on Caroline Street, but I don't know much else about the filming locations. Please comment if you can add some knowledge on this. You can watch the Trailer below:

And continuing with movies, I am nothing less than thrilled about the new downtown theater. Margarita and I are looking forward to walking downtown for some nice entertainment - and to have a clue what the Oscar-nominated movies are all about during the awards ceremony. Of course, with a newborn baby in the house, I don't know how often we will get out, but it's exciting to know the movie theater is here.

Shifting gears, it seems like the groundwork is being laid to develop the St. John Neumann residence next to St. Clements Church on Lake Avenue. The parcel is apparently going to be split up so the vacant residence building is on its own parcel. What else could that mean other than an effort to sell it? It's a picturesque site with many large beautiful trees giving nice shade and serenity to that area. I hope any development there keeps those trees, the beauty of the building, and the residential nature of that neighborhood. I feel another condo development coming on.

If you haven't been to Congress Plaza lately, the portion of the building slated for demolition is completely gone. It really looks a lot different there.

Speaking of Congress Plaza, I really appreciate the CVS plaza being open 24 hours.

I wonder how Jacobs and Anthony's is doing? I was walking by there the other day and I want to go there in theory, but when I'm in the mood to go out to dinner it just doesn't excite me. I was there for dinner once when it first opened and it was just OK. The dining room is comfortable, but to me there are just better choices in that price point.

I don't like the new Saratogian's print edition; the appearance has the appeal of USA Today. It looks too much like the Times Union as well. The extra-early deadline, imposed because the T-U is now printing the paper, is only going to make our hometown paper that much less relevant. On the plus side, the new web site looked sharp and clean at my first glance.

Has Breuggers reopened yet? Will it ever reopen?

Continuing on restaurants, I wonder which ones will close this winter.
There are usually at least a few that don't make it through the winter.

NYRA finally has what I call the floating horse numbers on the bottom of the screen for simulcasts. You know, those computer generated colored and numbered bubbles that show you where your horse is on the track. Other tracks have had them for years, but now NYRA tracks finally have them. I can sleep well now.

October 09, 2013

In yet another sign that winter is on its way, The First Night 5K registration is now open for you brave and hearty souls who choose to run it. As in the past few years, the number of runners will be capped at 1,500, so be one of the early registrants and you won't have to worry about getting blocked out.

October 06, 2013

The Saratoga Fasig-Tipton auctions in August are big events, but the fall sale, in just its second year, sort of falls below the radar. It is more officially known as the Saratoga Mixed and Horses of Racing Age sale, and it will be held tomorrow, Monday October 7th starting at 11am and going well into the afternoon.

It's not as high-end (and therefore not as dressy) as the August affairs; in fact it's downright laid back, but still interesting and fun. For more information, including an on-line catalog, click here.

July 20, 2013

I just ran the Silks & Satins 5k and as usual it was an enjoyable race. If it wasn't for the 3,000 people that came in ahead of me, I would have been first. I just want to thank the volunteers who kept the race safe for the runners, the organizers of course, and the sponsors, of which Price Chopper was the main one. Also an shout out to the neighbors along the route who set up their sprinklers for our cooling needs! Just another reason why Saratoga Springs is so wonderful!

If anyone finds a link for results, could you post it in the comments? Thanks!

July 05, 2013

The Silks & Satins 5K is one of the nicest runs in a city that has a lot of nice runs, and it will be held on Saturday July 20, 2013.

It starts and ends at the Fasig-Tipton Center on East Avenue and goes through Union Avenue, Circular, Caroline Street etc. It's a pleasant route with tree-lined streets and nice residents who will cheer you on and even offer up a sprinkler or two. Click here for more information.